Re: Background Note: Burma published by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

on August 3, 2011

Dear Mr. Michael Thurston,

We like to point out the sub-title “People” under which the Background Note of Burma mentioned that “Rohingya” is one of the majorities of Burma’s ethnic groups. We are very astonished to read such so-called Rohingya as an ethnic group of Burma on your Background Note. As a matter of facts, our Burmese history shows that the main majority of indigenous ethnic groups of Myanmar (Burma) are Burman, Shan, Karen, Rakhine (Arakan), Kachin, Chin, and Mon.

The term “Rohingya” was originally referred to Rakhine or Rakhaing (Arakan) in Chittagonian Bengalis’ accents. In colloquial Chittagonian Bengali dialect “Rohing” or “Rohung” means Rakhine (Rakhaing). Their dialect has no “RA” sound, but “RO” sound. So they are calling our Rakhines or Rakhaings in their dialect as Rohings or Rohungs. And in their language “YA” means native. Therefore, ROHING plus YA becomes ROHINGYA i.e. Rakhine/Rakhaing native. So it is obvious that the word “Rohingya” or “Rohungya” is of original Chittagonian language for native of Rakhine or Rakhaing.

They had come from Bangladesh (formerly known as East Pakistan) and settled down in the northern part of Rakhine (Arakan) State. They are only Chittagonian Bengalis. They have no legal right to claim themselves of the ethnic identity of Rohingya in Myanmar (Burma). They are new breed of Muslim groups called themselves Rohingya, and formed the several organizations under ROHINGYA such as Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU), Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO), Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF), and Araken Rohingya National Council (ARNC). These groups affiliate themselves with Al Qaeda.

The so-called Rohingyas, who never existed in the history of Myanmar (Burma), tried and are trying in any means to include in one of the ethnic groups of Myanmar (Burma). When they were not recognized as an ethnic group by the Government of Myanmar (Burma), they approached and told the Governments of the Islamic Countries, the International Communities and the Human Rights Organizations that they were facing racial discriminations and human rights violations of the Myanmar (Burma) government base on religion and ethnic background. Then the Governments of the Islamic Countries, the International Communities and the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), blindly believing their complaints without thorough study of the authentic historical evidences and records of Myanmar (Burma), were giving them aids in cash and in kind.

Taking this opportunity, we like to point out some actual facts which happened in the townships of Maungdaw, Butheedaung, and Rathedaung of Rakhine (Arakan) State. The Chittagonian Bengali Muslims (so-called Rohingyas) were/are living in these three townships because they are very close to the Bangladesh as Texas closed to Mexico. They acted as terrorists especially in Maungdaw Township. They had exploded bombs across Maungdaw Township. They burned the Buddhist Rakhine villages and monasteries, destroyed the Buddha images and Pagodas, attacked, raped, tortured, hacked and killed the innocent Rakhine people brutally, and fled to Bangladesh bordering Myanmar in the west. They sought refuge in Bangladesh dishonestly claiming that they were ethnic ROHINGYA people of Myanmar (Burma) and that they were persecuted by the Burmese Regime. In doing so, they were recognized as refugees by Bangladesh Government, and are now enjoying assistance from UNHCR as well as from NGO in Bangladesh.

Actually we, the Rakhine (Arakan) people belonging to one of the main majorities of indigenous ethnic groups of Myanmar (Burma), have historically supporting documents and records, and all Rakhine (Arakan) kings were Buddhists, and none of them were Muslims. The Bengali Muslims are raping the Rakhine women, killing the innocent Rakhine people, destroying the Rakhine Buddhist temples, and occupying the Rakhine land for building mosques. We are now seriously under their threats especially in Maungdaw area. They are attempting to wipe out the map of Rakhine (Arakan) – as Iran is attempting to wipe out Israel from the world map - and will transform the Rakhine State into an Islamic State of Rohingya with the sound support of other Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and so on.

We, therefore, like to request you that the so-called Rohingya which was wrongly mentioned as ethnic group of Burma in the Background Note: Burma may kindly be removed as early as possible.

Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Copy to:

Ministry Of Foreign Affairs,

Nay Pyi Taw

Ministry of Home Affairs,

Nay Pyi Taw

Rakhine Democratic Party

NLD

...Posted By... Arakan Research Centre
...Date... Tuesday, November 15, 2011.
...Post Title...
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So-Called Rohingyas
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Burma published by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs